Last



Feb. 16 1926.

E. D. STONE LAST Filed July 2 1925 liwenliori .Ebnerfl. SE22 by m a/wL QII

Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

ELMER D. STONE, OF FBAMINGI-IAIVI, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST.

Application filed July 21, 1925. Serial No. 45,096.

To all wliom Z Z- IIEEI-f/ comer: 7

Be it known that l, l lisiicn ll. stream, a citizen Ofi tliO United States of r'tinerica, and

a" resident of Framingham, in the county of h'iiddlesex, Sate of lizlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful linprovenieiits in Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

y This invention relates to lasts and particularly to lasts used in the manufacture of rubber boots and shoes, the object of the 1 invention being to protect the bottom edges beenfound to give satisfactory and reliable "results, although it is to be understood that Ythe various instruii'ientalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and, the invention isnot limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these iiistruinentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims. Q

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents an inverted plan ot a last embodying the principles ot the present invention.

Figure 2 saine.

Figure 3 represents a. transverse section of same on line 3, 3, on Fig. 1, and

Figure 4 represents a similar section after the last has swelled.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings 10 is a last adapted for use in the manufacture of rubber boots and shoes, the lower end of which is provided with sockets 11 to receive 'iositioning pins of any suitable machine on which it is desired to mount said last.

These'lasts are usually made of wood and in the manufacture of rubber boots and represents a side elevation of shoes thereon, they become subjected to moisture which causes them to swell and heat which causes them to again shrink.

, This continually changing of conditions causes'the wood of the last to become very brittle and when the lasts are thrown about in the factory the edges become nicked and bro -cn to such an extent as to make them tor iui'ther use, consequently it is quite essential that the bottom of the last should be given some protection, particularly at the edges to prevent injury thereto.

A metal plate covering the entire bottom ce would be unsatisfactory for it would not. permit the widening and narrowing of the last during the swelling and shrinking ot the wood and the outer edge of such a plate could not be maintained in register with the outer edge of the last under these diti'ei'ent conditions.

It quite essential that the edge of any rcciiforciiig plate should coincide with the edge oi the last at all times. v

In order to accomplish this result depressions 12 are formed at the opposite sides of the bottom oi the heel 13 and tore part 14, these depressions being separated by the upwardly extending projections 15 extending lengthwise of the last.

In each of these depressions 12 is posi tioned a reeiitorcing strip or plate 16 of metal or other tough material, said strips or plates 16 being secured in position by the members 1? at points adjacent the outer edges of said plates 16.

These plates are secured to the last when shrunk to its narrowest condition, as indicated in Fig. 3, and at this time the plate 16 will fill the entire depression 12 with the outer edges of the plates 16 registering with the outer edges of the heel 13 and tore part 14 of the last, and the inner edges of said plates abutting the opposite vertical walls of the projections 15.

Then under varying degrees of temperature the last coininences to swell the plates 16 will move away from each other leaving the spaces 18 as shown in Fig. 4.

This Fig. 4; is somewhat exaggerated in order to more clearly illustrate the fact that no matter how much the last swells the outer edges or" the plate 16 are still in register with the edges of the heel and forepart of the last...

As a consequence, notwithstanding the varying conditions of the last, the bottom edges thereof will be well protected at all times.

hen the last again shrinks the plates 16 will move toward each other until their inner edges again abut the walls of the projections 15.

By =the usekof these protecting plates 16 thelasts are serviceable for longperiods and the manufacturer is saved the expense of replacing them.

It is believedthatthe operation and many advantages of the invention will be under stood Without further description.

Having thus described-111v invention,? 1..

claim 7 A rubber shoe last having separated metal plates inserted into the opposite sides of the bottom thereof With-their outer edges .registering Witlrthe outeredges of said last,

said-plates being secured to the bottom face of the lastbnly at points closely adjacent 1 the edges thereof.

A rubber shoe last having separated "metal plates inserted into the opposite sides of the bottom of the heel and forepart thereof with their outer edges registering with the outer edges of said heel and forepart,

said plates being secured to the bottom face of the last at points adjacentt-he outer edges 'thereof.,ythe inner port-ions of said plates --be1ng tree to move relatively to the face of the last during'the swelling and shrinking thereof.

. 3, A rubber shoe last having depressions inthe opposite sides ofv 1ts bottom and extending to the edges thereof. and a separate ..1netal platepositioned in each depression and secured to said last only at the outer edges thereof, said plates having their outer edges registering with the edges of the last and their bottom faces 1n the same plane .with the bottom of the last.

4. A rubber Shoe last havin se arate metal protecting strips secured to its bottom at the opposite edges thereof and movable toward and from each other: during the shrinking and swelling of said last. I

5. A rubber shoe last havingyliatfaced depressions in the opposite sides of its hottoin and extending to the edges thereof, and a separate fiat metal plate positioned in each.

depression and secured by screws to said 

